Day 1: Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport – Retreat to Arusha

Your journey begins with an arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where the warm smiles of our experienced guide greet you. A transfer to the Arusha Coffee Lodge offers you a first taste of Tanzania’s renowned hospitality. The lodge, a luxurious haven set amidst a coffee plantation, provides a serene backdrop for relaxation and a pre-safari briefing. Spend the evening indulging in the lodge’s comforts, with Mount Meru standing as a silent sentinel in the distance. Today, you can relax in Arusha, enjoy a quick briefing about your upcoming safari, recover from your journey, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere of Africa.

Day 2: Tarangire National Park – Encounters with Giants

Your safari begins in earnest with a scenic drive to Tarangire National Park after an early breakfast. The park’s landscape is dotted with majestic baobabs and teeming with wildlife. Midday, you’ll enjoy a carefully prepared picnic, watching the ebb and flow of animals by the Tarangire River.

As the evening sets in, retreat to the seclusion of Lemala Mpingo Ridge. Here, the elegant, tented suites offer a luxurious respite, blending seamlessly with the untamed surroundings, promising a night of peace under the African sky.

Day 3: Tarangire to Serengeti National Park – Journey into the Wild

An early start shows you to the Serengeti National Park, famed for its vast, open plains and the Great Migration. The drive from Tarangire will take you through the lush highlands of Karatu, with a stop at the Ngorongoro Crater rim for panoramic vistas that take your breath away.

After savouring a delightful picnic lunch amidst the Serengeti’s endless plains, you will set off on an afternoon game drive in search of lions, cheetahs, and perhaps the elusive leopard. The day ends as you arrive at Lemala Nanyukie, a slice of heaven where luxury tents provide the ultimate comfort amidst the wild cacophony of the Serengeti night.

Day 4: Serengeti National Park – The Pulse of the Wild

Awakening in the Serengeti, you’re enveloped by an immersive sensory experience that’s uniquely African. As the sun rises, it illuminates a day full of potential for exploration in this famed national park. The Serengeti stirs to life around you, with the distant calls of wild animals heralding the start of your adventure.

Your safari in the Serengeti is customised to your preferences, ensuring a personal and flexible experience. Collaborate with your guide to design each day’s activities, from early game drives to catch the golden light of dawn to leisurely afternoon drives after a restful lunch back at camp or even a full day out in the bush with a picnic surrounded by the untamed wilderness.

The Central Serengeti, especially the life-rich Seronera River Valley, offers exceptional game viewing annually. However, during the dry season, wildlife congregates around limited water sources, offering unparalleled game-watching opportunities. This is when the Serengeti truly comes alive, with predators and prey engaging in the eternal dance of survival beneath the vast Tanzanian sky.

Day 5: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Post-breakfast, relish a final morning game drive in the Serengeti before brunch. Then, journey east to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, an unparalleled sanctuary where the Maasai, their livestock, and wildlife coexist. Upon arriving late afternoon, check into the Ngorongoro Lodge Melia – The Rim Room. Here, you’ll have dinner and spend the night overlooking the crater. The Ngorongoro Crater, with its vast population of animals, including the rare black rhino and giant tusked elephants, offers a spectacle not found anywhere else on Earth.

Day 6: Walking and Hiking Embakaai Crater – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Following breakfast, you’ll head towards the Ngorongoro Highlands to discover the tranquil Empakai Crater. This hidden gem, nestled 40km from the renowned Ngorongoro Crater, cradles a serene lake nearly 8km wide, flanked by steep, forest-clad cliffs.

Your trek starts with breathtaking views of Oldonyo Lengai, Tanzania’s most active volcano, and distant glimpses of Lake Natron. Guided by an expert and accompanied by an armed ranger, you’ll descend through lush forests to the crater floor, where flamingos fringe the lake, and wildlife such as monkeys and buffalos roam.

The hike down takes under an hour, with the return climb taking longer. You’ll enjoy a picnic lunch at the crater’s rim, soaking in the vistas before making the ascent and returning to your lodge for dinner and overnight rest.

Day 7: Ngorongoro Crater – Goodbye Safari

Your final morning starts with an early meal at Ngorongoro Melia Lodge before you descend into the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Often described as the eighth wonder of the world, the crater offers a last memorable safari experience with its dense wildlife population in a compact area.

Enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch on the crater floor, surrounded by the natural beauty and the animals of this unique ecosystem. In the afternoon, bid farewell to the wilds of Tanzania as you travel to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure, bringing your unforgettable safari to a close.